Roman Village, Domus and Elaborate Mosaic Floor Unearthed in Sicily

Archaeologists have unearthed something special near Vizzini, a town in Sicily, in the form of a Roman domus, or house, dating back to the 2nd-4th centuries AD. The ancient Roman dwelling possesses an intricately designed mosaic floor, and is part of a larger settlement nestled nearly 500 meters (1640 feet) above sea level on the southeastern edge of Sicily. The settlement is part of a Roman village that spread over 37 acres (15 hectares), in a region which experienced a rapid transformation during Roman rule.

This find came from a multi-year excavation project in the area, led by archaeologists from the University of Göttingen. Spearheading the effort is Prof. Dr. Johannes Bergemann, Chair of Classical Archaeology and Head of the Archaeological Institute at the university, according to a press release.

Roman mosaic floor. (Johann Bergemann/Georg-August University of Göttingen)

A New Settlement System: Exploring Vizzini

“This new settlement system, connected to inland regions via arterial roads, flourished for only a few centuries,” Bergemann explained. “The house we discovered near Vizzini is a crucial piece of evidence from this transformative period in Sicily’s history.”

The team conducted extensive surface investigations, mapping potential sites of interest in and around Vizzini. In 2023, they had their proverbial Eureka moment, while using advanced geophysical surveying techniques to probe the subsurface without disturbing the ground. They measured anomalies in the Earth’s geomagnetic field, generating detailed images of what lay beneath.

The results pointed them directly to the foundations of a Roman domus, which, despite being buried, sits just beneath the modern surface. The excavated structure was a huge 98.4 x 42.6 feet (30 by 13 meters) in size, and offered a glimpse into the past life of this rural Roman settlement, reports Arkeonews.

“There is a reception hall of almost 100 square meters, the floor of which was covered with mosaics. Unfortunately, parts of the mosaic were destroyed by the plowing of the site. People of high wealth lived here between about the second and sixth centuries AD: there were columns made of round bricks, covered with stucco and well painted, similar to those in Pompeii. We found remains of fountains with marble basins and fancy Roman ceramics, known as Terra Sigillata,” Bergemann said.

Illustration of a Roman domus, or house. (Carole Raddato/CC BY-SA 2.0)

A Period of Rapid Transformation: Rome and Globalization

During Roman times, this region of Sicily witnessed a significant transformation in its settlement patterns. Ancient Greek cities were gradually replaced by expansive rural estates and agricultural centers, or villas, which drove the region’s economy. The Roman domus was a smaller home located within the boundaries of settlements, which existed as complements to the villas.

Estates often benefited from long-distance trade that thrived under the Roman Empire’s globalized framework. Key to this economic network were the numerous small docking areas along the southern Sicilian coast, which facilitated the flow of goods, according to LBV Magazine.

 Villas developed from more than just agricultural centers, becoming symbols of wealth and status. Sprawled out over large areas and including luxury accommodations like baths, courtyards, and ornamental gardens, villas became central to the economy, especially in regions like Sicily, where agriculture thrived. Estates were often dedicated to producing cash crops such as olive oil, wine, and grain, which were traded across the Mediterranean and beyond, reflecting the globalized nature of Roman commerce.

The team unveiled their findings for the first time during a presentation at Vizzini’s town hall today. For those eager to learn more, Bergemann and his colleagues will be delivering a detailed lecture about their excavation of the Roman domus and associated discoveries on February 3, 2025, at the University of Göttingen, as part of their ongoing public archaeology series.

Top image: Archaeological excavations that unearthed Roman domus near Vizzini, Sicily.   Source: Johann Bergemann/Georg-August University of Göttingen

By Sahir Pandey